Precedent-Setting Mining Protections Approved

An Act to Protect Maine’s Clean Water and Taxpayers from Mining Pollution (2017)

Pollution from metallic mineral mining poses a significant threat to Maine’s waters and to the taxpayers who are frequently left paying the cleanup cost. After several years of rejecting too-weak mining rules, the legislature enacted LD 820, a strong set of regulations that will protect clean water and taxpayers from the impacts of metallic mineral mining pollution. The bill prohibits mining on public lands and under lakes, rivers, streams, brooks, and wetlands. The bill also prohibits open pit mines and tailings impoundments (ponds that hold mining waste). LD 820 requires any mining company to provide financial assurance to cover a ‘worst case’ mining failure scenario as determined by an independent third party. The governor vetoed the bill and the legislature overrode the veto. The veto override votes are scored here.